How to prepare and organize your van kitchen?

When we swap our home for a campervan—whether for a vacation or a longer-term lifestyle—our lives suddenly become synonymous with lightness. This small space allows only our most essential and favourite items to pass through the sliding door. And while the minimalist experience can be very positive, it also requires smart space management. This is what I want to explore with you today: How to efficiently organize a van kitchen. And to answer the timeless question “What to eat in a campervan,” you’ll find our favourite winter recipe at the end of this article!

*We are aware that part of the joy of vanlife is keeping a sense of surprise and spontaneity throughout the journey. With great respect for this, we offer these organizational tips*

Tips and suggestions

• Keeping in mind the recipes you want to cook during your trip is key! Planning the ingredients you’ll need is the best way to avoid overbuying and therefore optimize storage space. It also helps prevent food from spoiling or realizing, deep in the forest, that you forgot cumin for your dahl, for example. Small tip: We like to save photos or written recipes we plan to cook in our phone notes.
• Pre-cutting vegetables and storing them in containers (which can later be reused for leftovers or next-day lunches) helps food last longer. It also reduces how often you need to empty the trash by avoiding vegetable scraps that rot quickly and attract small flies. Small tip: One way to keep fish and meat longer is to transfer them into airtight glass containers; bacteria develop more slowly in them!
• Pre-cooking grains. For example, pasta, quinoa, rice, millet, etc. Cooked grains store very well, helping you save van energy—and most importantly, dishes and time! Small tip: Preparing ingredients ahead of time also makes fridge organization more efficient, which once again reduces waste.
• Choosing longer-lasting foods. For example, swapping lettuce for kale, meat for chickpeas or cauliflower, dairy milk for plant-based milk, etc. Small tip: To soften kale: remove the main stem, place it in a bowl, add a light drizzle of olive oil and massage it (ideally with your hands). The kale will become softer and much more enjoyable with your favourite dressing.
• Eating fresh by buying what’s available along the way helps us stay light and improvise our meals! It’s also a great way to discover regional products, meet small producers, build connections for future trips, and above all, enjoy amazing food! That’s a big part of van life!

The recipe

David’s green chili

Preparation

In a pot, brown the onions in olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, spices, and salt, and cook until fragrant, about 1–2 minutes. Add the chopped chicken and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, for about 5 minutes. Stir in the lime juice, jalapeños, chicken broth, green salsa, and beans, then increase heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the rice and cook until tender, about 20–30 minutes. Serve in a bowl and top with a spoon of sour cream, cilantro, and a lime wedge.

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